Murray may back out

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The British number one received treatment in the third set of Friday's 6-7 (6/8) 6-2 6-2 semi-final victory over Roger Federer. And with the Australian Open beginning in just over a weeks' time, Murray is not willing to risk making it worse.

The 21-year-old, who is the defending champion in Doha, told his own website: "If my back is going to be like this I won't play."

He added: "It was getting stiff as the match progressed. My back has been giving me some problems ever since Abu Dhabi. I don't know whether it has something to do with the nature of the court, rather than the weather."

Victory in Qatar would see Murray start 2009 with back-to-back titles following his victory over Rafael Nadal in the final of the World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi last week.

If the match goes ahead, it will be the eighth meeting between Murray, who also reached the final in Doha in 2006, and Roddick with the Scot having won five of those matches, most recently at the Masters Cup last November.